Best Seats in the Oriental Theatre (Chicago)?

[gleek4114]

Posted: 1/29/15 at 11:57am

I just got a great discount code for The First Wives Club, and am looking at buying tickets to a performance. I have never been to Chicago, so this theater is brand new to me. I have several options with the code:

1. ORCH LEFT Row J Seats 17 and 19 (5 and 6 seats into the center)

2. ORCH LEFT Row K Seats 13 and 15 (9 and 10 seats into the center)

I know these are practically the same seats but I was curious as to if I should look in a different section entirely. Any input would be great!

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/29/15 at 1:32pm

Row J seats 17 and 19 are 9 and 10 seats from the first center aisle. Row K seats 13 and 15 are 7 and 8 seats from the first center aisle. They are as you said practically the same seats. Either should be fine, but not knowing how the show is staged, I can't say for sure how great the seats will be.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/30/15 at 10:56am

Those are perfect seats! sat there for newsies! I also love the dress circle.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 1/30/15 at 11:07am

The problem with the dress circle is that if you aren't sitting in the first row or two the balcony cuts off the top third of the stage. This is only a problem if you are seeing something that has action that high up, but still something to consider.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/31/15 at 10:25am

I saw wicked at the oriental in the dress circle and I could see elphabas flight extremely well, although I was on the right side of the dress circle.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/31/15 at 11:05am

Seating questions aside, I think we can all agree it is a flat out gorgeous theater. To bad many of this architect's firms efforts in Chicago have been pounded to dust in the name of progress

Saw it in the 80's while it was still showing movies. Would love to get back to Chicago one day and see it how it is today.

[markypoo]

Posted: 1/31/15 at 4:47pm

I might have used the same code you did and got in row D on the right side of the orch facing stage

[markypoo]

Posted: 1/31/15 at 4:48pm

Mr Roxy do you remember what year that was? How was the condition/cleanliness of the theatre at that time?
I'm a Chicagoan who remembers watching the 3 Stooges Meet Hercules there in the early 60s

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/31/15 at 4:56pm

It was in the mid 80's . We visited a few theaters no longer there like the grand Granada. I think we also saw the Nortown and definitely the Uptown. I set up a side visit with a friend of mine to see the Avalon/ New Regal

It was a big old theater which had not been cleaned or repainted for awhile.We also saw the lamented United Artists and the Chicago before it was renovated as well.

Chicago has more picture palaces than any other city.As a result,it has lost more than any other city.

Updated On: 1/31/15 at 04:56 PM

[madela2]

Posted: 1/31/15 at 9:20pm

The Oriental is indeed a beautiful theater. I have seen many shows there.

I think those seats sound pretty good.

This reminds me that I need to buy my tickets for this! So, thank you :)

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 8:39pm

Can I just say I've been in every BIC theatre, I'm only 16, and the ceiling in the oriental is so gorgeous. Its aqua color reminds me of a coral reef and can wee say the sculptures are just amazeballs! Where can you find a theater like the oriental, the auditorium, bank of america, and Cadillac on broadway? You can't! I think what makes up for not seeing the broadway show, but seeing the tour in chicago are the theatres themselves.

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 9:51pm

"Where can you find a theater like the oriental, the auditorium, bank of america, and Cadillac on broadway? You can't!"

Not sure about that. There are some pretty phenomenal old theaters on Broadway...

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 10:28pm

We used to have a number of them. Unfortunately, Times Square is now more Disneyland than anything else. Alas, they are all gone with the exception of the old Hellinger (previously Warner's Hollywood) which is now a church. Beautiful theatre however.

Updated On: 2/2/15 at 10:28 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/1/15 at 10:33pm

There are probably a bunch, but hard to sort out why the Belasco wouldn't be considered a beautiful old theater?! And that is just the one that immediately came to mind...

[markypoo]

Posted: 2/2/15 at 3:45pm

the one and only time I was in the Belasco was in 2000 for THE DEAD and the place was badly in need of renovation - climing up that stairway to the balcony reminded me of being in a grind house

[markypoo]

Posted: 2/2/15 at 3:49pm

my sister saw a touring production of The Rocky Horror Show at the Granada in 1981. I still have the poster for it.
The Uptown I have toured in its deterioration twice in 1990 and 1998. It's still sadly in limbo.
Saw many movies at the Nortown including Disney's Return to Oz in 1985. Still have the ticket stub.
The last time I was in the United Artists was for the movie Earthquake in 1974.
What a crying shame they're gone except for the Uptown.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/2/15 at 5:21pm

Saw the Granada in 1986. A new owner had taken over & it really looked like he would make a go of it. Its sister theater, the Marbro, went down years before that

Nortown was once dubbed "King Neptune atmospheric".

United Artists had those beautiful murals on either side.

The Uptown was beyond gorgeous . I hold out hope it will find a savior.

Some lamented Chicago gems

Southtown
Belmont
Tivoli
Paradise

Hate

The Belasco is indeed a gem. It is an old vaudeville theater whereas the ones mentioned above started out as full fledged movie palaces.